Group Practice Building: Startup and Marketing Tips for Clinicians

Many therapists are interested in expanding their solo private practice into a group practice, but they may not know how or where to begin. There are several advantages to having a group practice, including the potential for increased income and the ability to offer expanded services to the community. With these advantages also come the challenges of marketing a group practice and making new business decisions.

In this 90-minute marketing webinar, Alison Pidgeon, MA, LPC, will cover the building blocks of how to start a group practice as well as how to market it. Alison will explain the potential advantages and disadvantages of owning a group practice and how therapists can determine if it is a good business decision for them. She will cover basic information clinicians need to know when they begin the process of expanding their practice as well as what clinicians can expect during the recruiting and hiring process.

Alison will share strategies she discovered when first marketing her group practice and how they differed from marketing her solo practice. She will guide attendees through the process of envisioning their group practice as a "brand" they can develop and successfully market. Attendees will also learn to use niche marketing strategies to differentiate their new group practice from others in their own communities.

This marketing webinar is designed to help clinicians:

Summarize the pros and cons of starting a group practice.

Describe the building blocks for what is needed to start a group practice.

Demonstrate an understanding of the recruiting and hiring process.

Explain the differences between marketing a solo private practice and a group practice.

Apply a vision to brand and niche market a group practice.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference, or would like more information, please contact us here.

527CE hours and counting!

All are available to GoodTherapy.org members at no additional cost.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

CE credit hours will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety. This course has been approved by GoodTherapy.org, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 1.5 CE hours. NAADAC Provider #135463, GoodTherapy.org, is responsible for all aspects of this programming. Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within legal, ethical, and professional development.

It is incumbent upon the member to verify whether or not this webinar fulfills the CE requirements for their license by the state, board, or licensing body to which they submit their CE certificate(s).

Registration Information

This marketing webinar is available at no cost to GoodTherapy.org members.

This event has already taken place. A recording of this event may be available in the Member's Area.

Meet the Presenter

Alison Pidgeon, MA, LPC

Alison Pidgeon, MA is a licensed professional counselor and the owner of Move Forward Counseling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She employs five other therapists, one virtual assistant, and one office assistant in her group practice focused on women’s issues.

Alison left her role as a director at a community mental health clinic and took the leap into full time private practice in 2015. What started out as a solo private practice quickly grew into a group practice after six months. In year two of her business, her practice quadrupled its gross profit over year one, surpassing the six figure mark. Now in year three of business, the practice will double its gross profit compared to 2016.

For the past year Alison has been working as a business consultant, along with Joe Sanok from Practice of the Practice, for other private practice owners. She loves being an entrepreneur and helping others achieve their dreams of being their own bosses. Alison’s specialties as a consultant are creating insurance-based practices, helping clinicians who are just starting out in private practice, and growing a business from a solo to a group practice.

Alison has a regular column in a local lifestyle magazine, Susquehanna Style, discussing issues related to mental health. She has also been a featured guest on the podcasts Practice of the Practice, Selling the Couch, and The Therapist Experience. In 2017 her practice was nominated for the “Emerging Business of the Year” award by the Central Penn Business Journal.

Continuing Education Provider Approvals

This course has been approved by GoodTherapy.org, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #135463. GoodTherapy.org is responsible for all aspects of their programming.